History of the FOP

The National Fraternal Order of Police is a proud tradition of law enforcement officer’s protecting law enforcement officers. The FOP is the largest professional police organization in the country. After 90 years of existence, the FOP has more than 2,100 local lodges and serves over 325,000 members.

The FOP first began in 1915 when Officers Martin Toole and Delbert Nagle of the Pittsburg Police Department began to fight for a change. These two pioneer officers and their fellow officers formed the first lodge, Fort Pitt Lodge #1. The two founding fathers were successful in making a better life for themselves and their fellow officers.

Today the goal of the FOP has stayed the same. The FOP continues to grow and has become the most influential voice among law enforcement officers from coast-to-coast. FOP representatives are active in State Legislation and U.S. Congress.

The members of the executive boards for each State Lodge and the National Lodge are all law enforcement officers. Thus proving cops protecting cops!